Rodent guard



. The invention aims I primarily ratsyfromf'a'scend Patented Aug- 7,1945 expensive and effective guard to prevent'rodents, "fireescapefladders and thus entering building further 'obj'ectis'to provid anovel construcplication septeinber 2 to provide-a simple, in-

tion which will not interfere with use of the ladder by firemen andothers.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation of a ladderequipped with the invention, a portion of the wall adjacent which theladder is mounted, being also shown.

- Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a-horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is asmall viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showing the two sections of thedoor in completely open positions to better illustrate the shape of theguard plate upon which they are mounted.

The general construction disclosed in the drawings may be considered aspreferred and while that construction will be specifically described, itis to be unders'toodthat variations may be made within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

The numeral 5 on the drawings denotes a fire I escape ladder adjacent awall of a building 6 and extending to the roof 1., said ladder havingthe usual stiles 8, and rungs or steps 9.

A guard horizontally surrounds the ladder 5 and projects forwardly,rearwardly, and laterally from said ladder to prevent rodents fromascending 'onto the roof I. The guard In includes a passage l I throughwhich a person may pass to permit him 'to use the ladder 5, and saidguard also includes a door normally closing said passage II. This doorpreferably comprises two sections I2 hingedly mounted at [3 for upwardand outward swinging to open positions, spring hinges being preferablyemployed to prevent gusts of wind from possibly opening the doorsections and also tov prevent them from being left open accidentally. a

The guard ID, in the present disclosure, includes a U-shaped plate I4which horizontally straddles the ladder 5, the two arms l5 of said platebeing disposed at the outer sides of the,

stiles 8 and projecting forwardly from said stiles, while thearm-connecting portion I6 of said plate is disposed behind and abutssaid stiles. This arm-connecting portion I6 is shown as provided with aforwardly projecting flange I! which extends from one of the stiles 8 tothe otherand also extends to the door sections I2 to provide a closurebetween said stiles 8. If the guard is so installed, however, that theplate [4 is in P TEN OFFICE 21,381,569 H V x. I. V

.- RoinEN'r GUARD w ffiowman, Houston, Teirf '1, 1944, Serial No.556,012 I about the same plane with one, of the steps or rungs 9, itwill not be necessary to provide the flange I1." J

Inthe construction illustrated, one of the door sections [2 is" hingedupon one 'of the arm portions l5 of the plate [4 and the other of saiddoor sections is hinged upon the other arm IS. The outer edge portionsof these arms may be upwardly offset as shown at l8, if desired.

In the present disclosure, a vertical bracket plate l9 is provided to besecured to the wall 6, said bracket plate having a flange at its upperedge upon which the plate I4 is suitably secured. The flange 20 may wellbe longer than the plate l9 and may have its ends 21 folded uponthemselves to underlie the offset plate portions 18. Braces ZZarepreferably secured to the bracket plate l9 and. to the arm portions15 of the plate 14, and these arm portions may have downwardlyprojecting flanges 23 at their outer edges, if desired, said flangesbeing suitably securedto the plate IS. The portion 20 may be securedby'angle brackets to the sides of the ladder as shown in Fig. 1. It willbe understood that the device may, besecured in any suitable manner tothe ladder or the building or both.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a simple and inexpensiveconstruction has been provided, yet one which will effectively preventrats and the like from ascending fire escape ladders and reaching theroofs of buildings. However, asthe door of the passage ll may be readilyopened, the guard will not interfere with the use of the lad- It ispreferable that fireman to easily open them when ascending the ladder,either by hand, or by simply pushing against them with his head.

While the general structure shown and described may be considered aspreferred, attentionis again invited to the possibility of makingvariations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I'claim:

1. In combination with a ladder; a guard'on said ladder projectingforwardly, rearwardly and laterally therefrom to prevent rodents fromascending said ladder, said guard including a passage in front of saidladder through which a person may pass, and a door normally closing saidpassage.

2. In combination with a ladder; a U-shaped plate horizontallystraddling said ladder and secured in fixed relation therewith, saidU-shaped plate having its two arm portions disposed at the outer sidesof and projecting forwardly from the ladder stiles and having itsarm-connecting por hinged to one of said arm portions and the otherhinged to the other of said arm portions.

4. A structure as specified in claim 2; said armconnecting portion ofsaid plate being provided with a flange extending from one of saidstiles to the other and projecting forwardly to said door. 1:

5. A guard shaped to horizontally surround a ladder and to projectforwardly, rearwardly, and laterally therefrom, to prevent'rodents fromas-' cending, said guard including a passage through which a person maypass, and a door normally closing said passage. V v

6. A guard comprising. a U shaped plate to horizontally straddle aladder, the two arm portions of said plate being adapted for location atthe outer side of the ladder stiles and to project forwardly therefrom,the arm-connecting portion of said plate being adapted for locationbehind the ladder, the space between said arm portions constituting apassage through which a person may pass, and a door mounted on saidplate and normally closing said passage to. prevent ascent of rodentstherethrough.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6; said door comprising twoupwardly swingable sections, one hinged to one of said arm portions andthe other hinged to the other of said arm portions.

8. A structure as specified in claim 6; said armtonnectingv portion ofsaid plate being provided with a flange projecting forwardly to saiddoor

